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Progressive congregations join forces for Mensch Mitzvah Day
The Gauteng progressive Jewish community came together last weekend to help the less fortunate of Hillbrow as part of Mensch Mitzvah Day, a global Jewish-led day of social action. They did so under the leadership of Rabbi Sa’ar Shaked (Beit Emanuel), Rabbi Adrian M Schell (Bet David), and Reeva Forman (Temple Israel/SAUPJ Gauteng).
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After celebrating Havdalah together at the new Bet David Campus in Morningside, about 50 mitzvah makers made more than 1 000 sandwiches and collected soft drinks and sweets for children. On Sunday morning, the group met again at Temple Israel in Hillbrow to hand out the food packages. Face painting and candy floss stations made the day extra sweet for kids, as did jazz-musicians Siphiwe Shiburi on drums and Yonela Mnana on keyboard, who entertained the adults.
“It was wonderful to see members of our shuls working hand in hand to bring some tikkun (fixing) into this world,” said Rabbi Schell. “At Temple Israel Hillbrow, we witness day by day how much help is needed in the neighbourhood. It is my hope that this mitzvah day inspired many to continue their good work, following the wise words of our sages that “one mitzvah leads to another”.